Palakura Pappu ~ Spinach DalIngredients :
Spinach : 4 small bunches
Red Gram / Toor Dal : 1 cup
Onion : 1
Tamarind : Gooseberry sized ball
Green Chillies : 3 to 5
Turmeric Powder : 1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder : 1/4 tsp
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 tsp
Cumin Seeds : 1/4 tsp
Chana Dal : 1/2 tsp
Urad Dal : 1/2 tsp
Dry Red Chilli : 1 or 2
Salt to taste
Oil : 1 tsp
A pinch of hing
Method :
Wash the red gram properly with plenty of water. Put the red gram and two cups of water in a pressure cooker and cook till 3 whistles. Soak the tamarind in water for 10 minutes. Then squeeze the extract out of it and keep aside. Remove the stems from the spinach. Wash and chop the spinach and set aside. Peel and chop the onion into medium size pieces. Put the chopped onion, chopped spinach, chopped green chillies, turmeric powder and water in a bowl and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tamarind extract, cooked red gram, salt and red chilli powder to it. Let it cook for 5 minutes and switch off the flame. Heat one teaspoon of oil in a pan for seasoning. Add the mustard seeds, chana dal, urad dal, cumin seeds and let them splutter. When the seeds stop popping, add the red chilli and hing and stir for few seconds. Remove from the flame and pour over the dal mixture. Mix well and serve hot with rice or roti.
